Orangeville Flyers

The Orangeville Flyers are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

History

Henry Carr

The Flyers lineage traces back to the Henry Carr Crusaders. Like the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and St. Michael's Buzzers, the Crusaders were a secondary school based Junior hockey team. The team's affiliation was with the Father Henry Carr Secondary School of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In 1980 they took their high school team and joined the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, where they played until 1991, even after the league left the Ontario Hockey Association in 1989. The team was famous for its first undefeated Metro season in 1983 (34-0-2), when they won the All-Ontario Jr. B Championship, the Sutherland Cup. After five rounds of playoffs, what it took to win the Sutherland Cup, the Crusaders had accumulated 54 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties, and 2 losses in overtime in 60 regulation games.

In 1991, when the Metro league declared itself Junior "A", they transferred the franchise to the Weston Dukes. Henry Carr still fields a team to this day, but again at the High School Hockey level.

Thornhill

In 1993 the Weston Dukes folded and their franchise was moved to Thornhill and became the Thornhill Islanders. In 1997 they were renamed the Thornhill Rattlers until 2004, when they again assumed the Thunderbirds name.

After playing in multiple league, for many years, even competing for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup. In Summer 2006, the players of the team started to get let go or traded for cash to any interested team. The team has been for sale for the better part of six months, but with no serious offers.

Villanova Knights

In 2007 local businessman David Arsenault (Governor/Owner) along with St. Thomas of Villanova College revived the team bringing it back into the OPJHL under the Villanova College name.

The Villanova Knights were announced officially on May 15, 2007 ^[1]. The team was be playing their home games at York University's Canlan Ice Gardens.

Orangeville Jr. Flyers

The original Orangeville Flyers were disbanded by the league in Spring 2011. April 14, 2011, ten days after the Flyers folded, the OJHL and the Villanova Knights announced that they were moving to Orangeville under the name Orangeville Flyers.^[2]

Season-by-season standings

Playoffs

MetJHL Years

• 1990 Lost Semi-final

Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Mimico Monarchs 4-games-to-none

Thornhill Thunderbirds defeated Henry Carr Crusaders 4-games-to-2

• 1991 Lost Semi-final

Henry Carr Crusaders defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-none

Bramalea Blues defeated Henry Carr Crusaders 4-games-to-2

• 1992 Lost Preliminary

St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Weston Dodgers 3-games-to-none

• 1993 DNQ
• 1994 Lost Semi-final

Thornhill Islanders defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1

Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders 4-games-to-none

• 1995 Lost Semi-final

Thornhill Islanders defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Thornhill Islanders 4-games-to-3

• 1996 Lost Final

Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-1

Thornhill Islanders defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2

Caledon Canadians defeated Thornhill Islanders 4-games-to-3

• 1997 Lost Round Robin Quarter-final

Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-3

Fifth in round robin quarter-final (2-4)

• 1998 Lost Quarter-final

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 3-games-to-1

Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Thornhill Rattlers 3-games-to-1

OJHL Years

• 1999 Lost Division Quarter-final

Couchiching Terriers defeated Thornhill Rattlers 3-games-to-2

• 2000 Lost Conference Final

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-1

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-1

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Vaughan Vipers 4-games-to-none

Lindsay Muskies defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-1

• 2001 Won League, Won OHF Ruddock Trophy, Won Dudley Hewitt Cup, Lost 2001 Royal Bank Cup round robin

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 4-games-to-none

Thornhill Rattlers defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-none

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-2

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Trenton Sting 4-games-to-1

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-1 OPJHL CHAMPIONS

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL) 4-games-to-3 RUDDOCK TROPHY, DUDLEY HEWITT CUP CHAMPIONS

Fifth and eliminated in 2001 Royal Bank Cup round robin (0-4)

• 2002 Lost Division Quarter-final

Pickering Panthers defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-3

• 2003 Lost Division Quarter-final

Markham Waxers defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-none

• 2004 Lost Division Quarter-final

Stouffville Spirit defeated Thornhill Rattlers 4-games-to-2

• 2005 Lost Division Quarter-final

St. Michael's Buzzers defeated Thornhill Thunderbirds 4-games-to-none

• 2006 Lost Division Quarter-final

Markham Waxers defeated Toronto Thunderbirds 4-games-to-1

• 2007 Did Not Participate
• 2008 DNQ
• 2009 DNQ
• 2010 Lost OJAHL Quarter-final

Georgetown Raiders defeated Villanova Knights 4-games-to-2

• 2011 Lost Quarter-final

Villanova Knights defeated Peterborough Stars 4-games-to-1

Wellington Dukes defeated Villanova Knights 4-games-to-1

Sutherland Cup appearances

1983: Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Stratford Cullitons 4-games-to-none

Notable alumni

• Bob Essensa
• Patrick Flatley
• Manny Legace
• Steve Moore
• Dominic Moore
• Jeff O'Neill
• Raffi Torres
• Mike York

References

External links

• Villanova Knights webpage